Are you interested in sustainability, biogeography, urban landscape ecology, biodiversity conservation, urban heat island effect, unique geologic features, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, weather, and/or climate? Are you looking for opportunities to get involved with research and boost your CV or resume?
If so, I encourage you to apply for my Geography & GIS URCA Research Assistant position! This semester, Research Assistants will continue to have a choice to:
1) Explore the biogeography of greenspaces within the built environment (urban landscape) to better understand the spatial patterns of urban biodiversity and ecological networks, as well as the impacts of urban landscape features and abiotic characteristics on those spatial patterns. More specifically, in this option, aims to assess the multifaceted socio-ecological role of urban greenways (pictured below: SERGUS REU students, Will Moore and Lierin Peterson, measuring DBH of trees along an Edwardsville IL greenway). Example projects include: 1) identifying extreme temperature zones and measuring urban heat island effects; 2) comparing locally collected data to remotely sensed data to assess reliability, benefits, and challenges; 3) identifying areas in need of enhanced heat refuge amenities and infrastructure gaps based on user activity along greenway networks; and 4) assessing the impact of urban land use on decomposition rates and biodiversity. There are many more topics that fit within this overarching exploration of urban greenspaces, so projects can often be tailored to student’s interests. Ultimately, greenways serve as an interface between human and natural systems across built environments and thus may act as both an ecological network and a means for enhancing urban resilience and sustainability.
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2) Mapping and characterizing the geometric properties, geomorphology, and rare vegetation communities of unique large closed topographic depression features located throughout the siliciclastic caprock of the Cumberland Plateau in TN (one pictured below with UTC student, William Stuart, conducting fieldwork) and on the Mormon Mesa in NV using remote sensing and geospatial technology. Very little is known about these unique closed topographic depressions and the interesting microclimates they create that may be critical factors for habitat selection and other ecosystem activities. Students work will help inform our collapse hypothesis. More specifically, we hypothesize that the depressions formed via collapse of rock into caverns formed in the carbonate-rich rocks below. Students can also choose to measure tree ring characteristics using tree core samples taken from within the depression.
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3) Research and create StoryMaps about culturally significant site(s) or prominent physical feature(s) in and around Chattanooga, TN or Edwardsville, IL. StoryMaps about Chattanooga will be added to our ChattaStory Project, while StoryMaps about Edwardsville will be added to our STLMetroEastStory Project. Both projects aims to engage and connect people with places by immersing them in the geography, geology, and history of local sites using interactive ESRI ArcGIS StoryMaps. After edits and finalization, the StoryMaps will be made public and viewable on any internet-connected device.
Deadline to apply is Tuesday, 7/15 by end of day (11:59 PM CDT), so don’t put it off – apply ASAP!
Check out the application page or contact Dr. McCarragher for more details.
To apply, visit the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program website at: https://www.siue.edu/urca/assistantapplicationpage.shtml
Then scroll down to find ‘Geography’ then click ‘Apply Now!’ in the row for ‘Shannon McCarragher.’
Shannon McCarragher, Ph.D. 